MLB Spring Training Season Kicks Off!
After an MLB offseason full of surprises, spring training is underway. Teams are preparing for action, with strategic moves and the hope of a fresh start. Alofoke Deportes brings you a detailed analysis of what to expect in this exciting pre-season phase. The New York Mets concluded an offseason renovation with the signing of Freddy Peralta. The Baltimore Orioles brought in batter Pete Alonso, while Alex Bregman left the division to join the Chicago Cubs. The current champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, made the most talked-about move by securing Kyle Tucker with a four-year, $240 million contract. With pitchers and catchers reporting in Arizona and Florida this week, we will begin to see the impact of these moves on the upcoming season. At Alofoke Deportes, we have consulted our experts to prepare for spring training, highlighting the stars and the most exciting stories.What excites the experts at Alofoke Deportes the most?
There’s a different energy at Dodgers camp. It’s been that way since Shohei Ohtani first arrived at Camelback Ranch three springs ago, and it continues to grow, intensifying with each star added and each championship won. This time, the main theme will be the Dodgers’ quest for a three-peat, amid a growing labor struggle that their spending has helped escalate. Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz are the newcomers, joining what was already one of the most star-studded rosters in baseball history. Shohei Ohtani is preparing for a full two-way season without restrictions; Roki Sasaki will seek to establish himself in his second year; Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow will strive to prove they can still perform as stars in the second half of their careers; and young, rising players like River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan, Ryan Ward, and Josue De Paula, among many others, will populate the complex as fans around the world watch. There will be no shortage of stories. There will be no shortage of intrigue.See how quickly some prospects will push decisions to reach the Major Leagues. Kevin McGonigle, the Detroit Tigers infielder, compared to legends like Dustin Pedroia and Alex Bregman, will be a factor this year… but when? Will Colt Emerson make his way onto the Seattle Mariners roster in April, May… or sooner? And when will Konnor Griffin enter the conversation in the Pittsburgh Pirates camp? Nothing is more exciting in baseball than the hope these talents represent.
Buster Olney
Pitchers used to show up at camp having not thrown for months and used the six weeks to build up their arm strength. Hitters would arrive with the belief that they would find their swings after spending the offseason, you know, out of action. Today, winter is a training ground, a time when players improve their games, and spring training reveals who made a leap out of sight. There will be pitchers who added 2 mph to their fastballs or finally perfected a splitter. Hitters will have completely reshaped their swings for maximum impact. It’s those kinds of changes that can make the difference between a team playing in October or not, and those first few weeks of spring training will reveal the winter’s winners.
Jeff Passan
It’s not exciting, but watching players use the automated ball-strike system (ABS) to make challenges will be interesting to see. Umpires making those calls is what we’re used to. It’s what we know. Now, players can object to those calls through technology. With limited challenges per game, the strategy for using them will be fun to follow. It won’t matter as much in spring training, but seeing how it all unfolds will be interesting.
Jesse Rogers
Which player who changed teams is most interesting to see in their new uniform?
I have never abandoned the idea that Luis Robert Jr. will produce at a star level again, and if that were to happen with the Mets, it would be a great story. I don’t know if his inconsistent durability and production can be attributed to deficiencies in the organizational processes of the Chicago White Sox, but the White Sox were the only team he has played for. Therefore, this is a true new beginning with new voices in his ear and a lot of pressure to play well as soon as possible. I am really interested in seeing if that gives Robert a boost. If not, I would have to accept that his career as an elite player is over.
Bradford Doolittle
Devin Williams’ short stint with the New York Yankees was unstable. Now, he’s on the other side of the city, tasked with replacing Edwin Díaz, a fan favorite and perhaps the best closer in baseball, as part of the Mets’ complete renovation. Williams’ underlying metrics suggested he was a victim of bad luck last season. He enjoyed dominant stretches and a strong finish. At the same time, he lost the closer job twice and was charged with at least one earned run in 17 of his 67 regular season appearances after allowing earned runs in 16 of his 148 appearances during his three previous seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who ran the Brewers’ front office when Williams became one of the sport’s top relievers, believes he will bounce back, enough to give him a three-year, $51 million contract. The Mets wanted to pair Williams with Díaz, but Díaz chose the Dodgers. Now, the pressure is on Williams to rediscover his previous world-class form.
Jorge Castillo
Few players can impact a culture like Alex Bregman. That is precisely why Cubs members were so excited to sign him this offseason, a year after falling short in their bid for the star third baseman. A member of the team’s front office called him “a transformative presence.” More tangibly, he also lengthens the lineup, leading Matt Shaw to move into a utility role, where he should thrive. And with the Cubs replenishing their bullpen and adding a much-needed potential frontline starter in Edward Cabrera this offseason, Bregman seems to be the player who will put them over the top in the National League Central Division.
Alden Gonzalez
After winning 101 games with a young team in 2023, the Orioles were supposed to be in the midst of nothing but good times and championship runs. Instead, they fell to 75-87 in 2025, leading to a much-needed revamp for 2026. Their big move was signing Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract after the Mets showed little interest in bringing him back. He could be the boost a stagnant offense needs, bringing energy and excitement to a team that lacked that in 2025. But most importantly, he brings power: no one on the O’s hit more than 17 home runs last year, while Gunnar Henderson led the team with only 68 RBIs.
David Schoenfield
Which prospect from the Alofoke Deportes Top 100 prospects list are you most excited to see this spring?
Nolan McLean, of the Mets, who was apparently the best pitcher in the organization when he went up to the mound at the end of last season. His presence on the mound was remarkable, he always seemed so calm, and his ability to spin the ball was amazing. Given his relatively recent transition from position player to pitcher, he is presumably still in the early stages of learning his craft, but it already seems like he’s been in baseball for a decade. And the Mets need him to be great again.
Buster Olney
Kevin McGonigle plays with an advantage. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, and he’s always happy to illustrate that in baseball, size (he’s 5 feet 10 inches tall) doesn’t necessarily dictate quality. There’s no better pure hitter in the minor leagues than McGonigle, 21, who has done nothing but tear it up since Detroit stole him with the 37th pick in the 2023 draft. Neither of the positions on the left side of Detroit’s infield are locked down, giving McGonigle the opportunity to come to camp and earn a spot. And while the American League rookie field is crowded, the Tigers have reason to break camp with McGonigle: if he logs a full year of service time (172 days on the Major League roster), they can cash in with a prospect promotion incentive draft pick if he wins Rookie of the Year or finishes in the top three in MVP voting during his first three seasons.George Lombard Jr. is only 20 years old and recorded a .695 OPS in 108 Double-A games last season, but expectations are, perhaps unfairly, high. That’s what happens when you’re the Yankees’ top prospect, and fans are clamoring for an Anthony Volpe replacement at shortstop. Kiley McDaniel recently ranked Lombard at number 20 on his list of the top 100 prospects, noting that his defense, baserunning, and power are the foundation for a strong, everyday player with star potential. Whether he debuts this season will depend on his performance in the minors and the needs of the Yankees, but the franchise considers him an important part of their future. When, exactly, is unclear.
Jorge Castillo
All eyes will be on Konnor Griffin at the Pirates’ camp, but keep Bubba Chandler in your peripheral vision. The top pitching prospect in Kiley McDaniel’s top 100, Kiley described him as a “right-handed Blake Snell.” A right-handed Blake Snell? I’m in. With a fastball that averaged 97.8 mph in the minors, Chandler made his MLB debut at the end of the season, finishing with 31 innings and pushing his heater up to 98.9 mph. Although his Triple-A numbers were mediocre (4.05 ERA, 4.8 walks per nine), he only walked four with 31 strikeouts in the majors, where he seemed more focused. He could be ready to dominate right now, offering a lethal duo alongside Paul Skenes.
David Schoenfield
Which battle for a position (or for the rotation) will Alofoke Deportes closely follow in the next month?
It will be interesting to see what decisions the Toronto Blue Jays will ultimately make with their surplus of corner/designated hitter candidates. George Springer was among the best offensive players in the American League last year, and Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes were such an important part of what the team achieved in October. Toronto added infielder Kazuma Okamoto on a four-year, $60 million contract, and it is assumed that he will play, given that level of investment and how Okamoto fits the Jays’ philosophy of putting the ball in play. Anthony Santander missed most of last year with an injury, after signing a $92.5 million contract. If everyone is healthy, who sits? Buster OlneyWith an aging roster that looks similar to last season’s, center field is the only place where the Phillies can get younger and more athletic. But that depends on whether Justin Crawford can secure the starting position during spring training. That is apparently the plan, so he will have every opportunity to do so. I love players like Crawford, with a high-average, speed-based profile. But until you see that skill set translate against the scorching stuff of major league pitchers, you have to remain a bit skeptical. A lot depends on Crawford’s ability to seize that position and enter the race for National League Rookie of the Year in the future. It’s the Phillies’ best chance to differentiate themselves from last season. That quest begins this week.
Bradford Doolittle
When the Mariners moved Ben Williamson in the trade that gave them Brendan Donovan, they set up a battle for their final infield spot between two former first-round left-handed picks: Cole Young (21 in 2022) and Colt Emerson (22 in 2023). Emerson is the better prospect. He’s also 20 years old, with a total of 27 plate appearances in Triple-A. Young, 22, didn’t hit much in his big league debut last year, but he was solid at second base. He could slot in there, with the versatile Donovan at third, or Emerson could take the job and play second or third, with Donovan moving to second in this latter case. Either way, Seattle’s group of young position prospects is about to make an impact on the big league roster. The team that just missed out on reaching the World Series last year is here to stay.
Jeff Passan
The Mets will be interesting to watch. Can rookie Carson Benge win the starting left field spot? He’s the No. 15 prospect, but he struggled in a late call-up to Triple-A (.178 in 24 games). Who wins a starting spot between Brett Baty and Mark Vientos? Can Baty play in left field if Benge has to go back to the minors? And then, there’s the starting rotation. If the Mets use a six-man rotation, is Kodai Senga healthy and back to his normal velocity to be part of that rotation? Can Jonah Tong become a factor with a great spring and join fellow rookie Nolan McLean in the rotation? Then, there’s center field. Is Luis Robert Jr. just a more expensive Tyrone Taylor or will he find his 2023 stroke again?
David Schoenfield
Which team interests Alofoke Deportes much more today than a year ago?
It’s unlikely the Pirates will jump to the level of the Blue Jays this season, but they’ve done enough to let you dream of a Paul Skenes playoff appearance in 2026. That wasn’t the case a year ago, when Pittsburgh’s lack of activity was a source of considerable frustration. The Bucs should continue to be aggressive in adding offense, which has improved, but is still far from elite. But while marginal playoff contenders in the National League East and National League West appear bound to look at the sixth seed as their opening to the postseason, Pittsburgh has that opportunity and a non-trivial chance to hang in the race for the Central title. If that were to happen and Pittsburgh were to host that 3-6 matchup in the wild card round with Skenes and Bubba Chandler lined up… yes, that would be very interesting.The Marlins hit rock bottom in 2024, losing 100 games with a last-place finish in the National League East after reaching the postseason in 2023. Skip Schumaker, the National League Manager of the Year in 2023, left after the season. Things were bleak. External expectations were low entering last year. Then, the Marlins shattered them, finishing 79-83, third in the division. The Marlins do things differently under the presidency of baseball operations of Peter Bendix. For example, they have starters throw live bullpen sessions between starts, and manager Clayton McCullough made pitches from the dugout during the last week of the season. But the future is promising, with one of the best starting rotations in baseball, even after trading Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers, a young and exciting core of position players and a farm system that ranks No. 10 in baseball, according to McDaniel. Signing Pete Fairbanks to close should help win games in 2026, perhaps enough to exceed expectations again and reach the playoffs.
Jorge Castillo
The Orioles needed a big offseason, and Mike Elias, their criticized president of baseball operations, delivered. Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward were added to the lineup, adding much-needed right-handed hitters to the top of the order. Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge were brought in to deepen the bullpen. And Shane Baz arrived via trade to help stabilize a rotation in need. Adding that group to a captivating young core of Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, and Samuel Basallo, all of whom could take steps forward, gives the Orioles a legitimate chance to win a difficult American League East Division. But here’s a caveat: the Orioles need to add another frontline starting pitcher, even more urgent now because Framber Valdez is off the table.
Alden Gonzalez
Quick, what team hit as many home runs in the second half of last year as the Blue Jays, champions of the American League? The White Sox probably weren’t your first guess, but that’s the correct answer. And that’s before they added Japanese hitter Munetaka Murakami. It’s not a sure thing, but it will be intriguing to watch. So will shortstop Colson Montgomery, who was sent to the White Sox’s spring training facility to fix his swing early last season. It worked. He went up and hit 21 home runs in just 71 games. Chicago may not win the American League Central Division, but the team could be stealthily good at the plate if it picks up where it left off in 2025.
Jesse Rogers
